SSC CPO · Topic Collection

English Comprehension PYQs

Reading comprehension, vocabulary, synonyms and antonyms, idiom usage, error spotting, sentence improvement, and cloze tests.

4100 Total Questions67 Official PapersYears: 2017–2025Search in English Comprehension
Showing questions 141–160 of 4100Page 8 of 100
SSC CPO 2025 Official Paper (Held On 10 Dec, 2025 Shift 1) (Previous Year Paper)·English Comprehension
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Question 141

SSC CPO 2025• English Comprehension• English Comprehension

Select the sentence containing the homonym of the highlighted word:

The sculptor carved a mensa for the altar from travertine.

  1. AOption (a)

    The curator displayed a Roman mensa used in funerary rites.

  2. BOption (b)

    The monk rested his arms on the marble mensa.

  3. COption (c)

    The chef placed the tureen on the mensa.

  4. DOption (d)

    The logic student solved the truth table using a mensa.

View answer & explanation

Correct answer

Answer: (a)A.

The curator displayed a Roman mensa used in funerary rites.

Explanation not yet available.
SSC CPO 2025 Official Paper (Held On 10 Dec, 2025 Shift 1) (Previous Year Paper)·English Comprehension
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Question 142

SSC CPO 2025• English Comprehension• English Comprehension

Select the sentence containing the homonym of the highlighted word:

The chant included a solemn sursum near the offertory.

  1. AOption (a)

    The musicologist analyzed the sursum tones in Gregorian chant.

  2. BOption (b)

    The botanist labeled the root as sursum-curving.

  3. COption (c)

    The cantor raised his arms at the sursum.

  4. DOption (d)

    The choir followed the rubric leading into the sursum.

View answer & explanation

Correct answer

Answer: (a)A.

The musicologist analyzed the sursum tones in Gregorian chant.

Explanation not yet available.
SSC CPO 2025 Official Paper (Held On 10 Dec, 2025 Shift 1) (Previous Year Paper)·English Comprehension
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Question 143

SSC CPO 2025• English Comprehension• English Comprehension

Convert the sentence provided below from its passive voice structure to an active voice structure:

It is presumed that the documents had been tampered with by internal staff before the audit.

  1. AOption (a)

    Internal staff had tampered with the documents before the audit.

  2. BOption (b)

    The audit presumed tampering by staff.

  3. COption (c)

    The documents were tampered with before the audit.

  4. DOption (d)

    Presumptions were made regarding document tampering.

View answer & explanation

Correct answer

Answer: (a)A.

Internal staff had tampered with the documents before the audit.

Explanation not yet available.
SSC CPO 2025 Official Paper (Held On 10 Dec, 2025 Shift 1) (Previous Year Paper)·English Comprehension
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Question 144

SSC CPO 2025• English Comprehension• English Comprehension

Convert the sentence provided below from its passive voice structure to an active voice structure:

The policy is supposed to have been drafted by external advisors in complete secrecy.

  1. AOption (a)

    It was supposed that the advisors externally drafted the policy.

  2. BOption (b)

    The policy drafting by external advisors was a secret assumption.

  3. COption (c)

    External advisors are supposed to have drafted the policy in complete secrecy.

  4. DOption (d)

    Someone supposed that secrecy was used to draft the policy.

View answer & explanation

Correct answer

Answer: (a)A.

It was supposed that the advisors externally drafted the policy.

Explanation not yet available.
SSC CPO 2025 Official Paper (Held On 10 Dec, 2025 Shift 1) (Previous Year Paper)·English Comprehension
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Question 145

SSC CPO 2025• English Comprehension• English Comprehension

Choose the most suitable option to replace the highlighted part of the sentence:

He availed of the opportunity well.

  1. AOption (a)

    has availed the opportunity

  2. BOption (b)

    availed himself of the opportunity

  3. COption (c)

    took the avail opportunity

  4. DOption (d)

    availed to opportunity

View answer & explanation

Correct answer

Answer: (a)A.

has availed the opportunity

Explanation not yet available.
SSC CPO 2025 Official Paper (Held On 10 Dec, 2025 Shift 1) (Previous Year Paper)·English Comprehension
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Question 146

SSC CPO 2025• English Comprehension• English Comprehension

Choose the most suitable option to replace the highlighted part of the sentence:

If I was you, I would resign immediately.

  1. AOption (a)

    was in your place

  2. BOption (b)

    were you

  3. COption (c)

    would be you

  4. DOption (d)

    am you

View answer & explanation

Correct answer

Answer: (a)A.

was in your place

Explanation not yet available.
SSC CPO 2025 Official Paper (Held On 10 Dec, 2025 Shift 1) (Previous Year Paper)·English Comprehension
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Question 147

SSC CPO 2025• English Comprehension• English Comprehension

A sentence is provided in indirect speech. From the four given options, choose the one that most accurately conveys the sentence in its corresponding direct speech.

The archivist declared that, unless the humidity controls were recalibrated, the papyri could deteriorate beyond salvage.

  1. AOption (a)

    The archivist declared, "Unless the humidity controls are recalibrated, the papyri could deteriorate beyond salvage."

  2. BOption (b)

    The archivist declared, "If humidity controls were recalibrated, papyri would deteriorate."

  3. COption (c)

    The archivist declared, "Unless humidity controls were recalibrated, the papyri could deteriorate beyond salvage."

  4. DOption (d)

    The archivist declared, "Unless humidity controls were recalibrated, papyri can get deteriorated beyond salvage."

View answer & explanation

Correct answer

Answer: (a)A.

The archivist declared, "Unless the humidity controls are recalibrated, the papyri could deteriorate beyond salvage."

Explanation not yet available.
SSC CPO 2025 Official Paper (Held On 10 Dec, 2025 Shift 1) (Previous Year Paper)·English Comprehension
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Question 148

SSC CPO 2025• English Comprehension• English Comprehension

A sentence is provided in direct speech. From the four given options, choose the one that most accurately conveys the sentence in its corresponding indirect speech.

They said, "We need more time."

  1. AOption (a)

    They said they needed more time.

  2. BOption (b)

    They said they need more time.

  3. COption (c)

    They said they had need more time.

  4. DOption (d)

    They said that we needed more time.

View answer & explanation

Correct answer

Answer: (a)A.

They said they needed more time.

Explanation not yet available.
SSC CPO 2025 Official Paper (Held On 10 Dec, 2025 Shift 1) (Previous Year Paper)·English Comprehension
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Question 149

SSC CPO 2025• English Comprehension• English Comprehension

A sentence is provided in indirect speech. From the four given options, choose the one that most accurately conveys the sentence in its corresponding direct speech.

The official said that only if the forms were submitted on time would the applications be processed.

  1. AOption (a)

    "The applications would be processed only if the forms were submitted on time," said the official.

  2. BOption (b)

    "Only if the forms were submitted on time would the applications be processed," said the official.

  3. COption (c)

    "If forms are submitted on time, the applications would be processed," said the official.

  4. DOption (d)

    "Submit forms on time and your applications will be processed," said the official.

View answer & explanation

Correct answer

Answer: (a)A.

"The applications would be processed only if the forms were submitted on time," said the official.

Explanation not yet available.
SSC CPO 2025 Official Paper (Held On 10 Dec, 2025 Shift 1) (Previous Year Paper)·English Comprehension
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Question 150

SSC CPO 2025• English Comprehension• English Comprehension

Rearrange the following sentences in correct order to make a logical passage.

  1. The team reviews the project deliverables to ensure quality.

  2. A detailed timeline is created for the completion of tasks.

  3. The progress is evaluated based on the defined metrics.

  4. The project is successfully completed within the defined timeline.

  1. AOption (a)

    2-3-1-4

  2. BOption (b)

    1-4-3-2

  3. COption (c)

    3-2-1-4

  4. DOption (d)

    4-1-2-3

View answer & explanation

Correct answer

Answer: (a)A.

2-3-1-4

Explanation not yet available.
SSC CPO 2025 Official Paper (Held On 10 Dec, 2025 Shift 2) (Previous Year Paper)·English Comprehension
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Question 151

SSC CPO 2025• English Comprehension• English Comprehension

Read the passage and answer the questions:

The annals of mountaineering history are adorned with figures whose daring transcended mere athleticism, embodying philosophical quests for transcendence against Earth's most formidable landscapes.

Each mountaineer whether treading the snows of Everest, the granite of Patagonia, or the arid heights of the Atlas Mountains-etched a distinct narrative of audacity and introspection.

"Tenzing Norgay" and "Sir Edmund Hillary's" epochal 1953 Everest ascent immortalized human perseverance, but figures such as "Reinhold Messner" redefined the boundaries further. Rejecting supplemental oxygen, Messner's minimalist ethos emphasized purity over conquest, portraying mountains not as trophies but as sentient entities commanding reverence. Similarly, "Junko Tabei", the first woman to summit Everest, symbolized the intersection of resilience and quiet defiance in an era resistant to female adventurers.

The ethos of mountaineering diversified through the late 20th and early 21st centuries. Climbers like "Kilian Jornet", blending ultra- marathon endurance with technical ascents, and "Nirmal Purja", whose record-breaking summits shattered temporal assumptions, reveal a contemporary paradigm: mountains as arenas of rapid, almost transcendental athleticism. Meanwhile, indigenous climbers, long relegated to footnotes in expedition histories, increasingly assert their rightful place as stewards of sacred peaks.

Thus, the saga of mountaineering resists reduction to mere feats of strength. It weaves a tapestry of cultures, philosophies, and personal odysseys - each ascent a dialectic between human fragility and the immutable majesty of the mountains.

In the sentence:

"The annals of mountaineering history are adorned with figures whose daring transcended mere athleticism..."?

What is the grammatical role of the clause

"whose daring transcended mere athleticism"

  1. AOption (a)

    Adjective clause modifying "figures"

  2. BOption (b)

    Adverbial clause modifying "history"

  3. COption (c)

    Noun clause acting as the subject

  4. DOption (d)

    Adjective phrase modifying "mountaineering"

View answer & explanation

Correct answer

Answer: (a)A.

Adjective clause modifying "figures"

Explanation not yet available.
SSC CPO 2025 Official Paper (Held On 10 Dec, 2025 Shift 2) (Previous Year Paper)·English Comprehension
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Question 152

SSC CPO 2025• English Comprehension• English Comprehension

Read the passage and answer the questions:

The annals of mountaineering history are adorned with figures whose daring transcended mere athleticism, embodying philosophical quests for transcendence against Earth's most formidable landscapes.

Each mountaineer whether treading the snows of Everest, the granite of Patagonia, or the arid heights of the Atlas Mountains-etched a distinct narrative of audacity and introspection.

"Tenzing Norgay" and "Sir Edmund Hillary's" epochal 1953 Everest ascent immortalized human perseverance, but figures such as "Reinhold Messner" redefined the boundaries further. Rejecting supplemental oxygen, Messner's minimalist ethos emphasized purity over conquest, portraying mountains not as trophies but as sentient entities commanding reverence. Similarly, "Junko Tabei", the first woman to summit Everest, symbolized the intersection of resilience and quiet defiance in an era resistant to female adventurers.

The ethos of mountaineering diversified through the late 20th and early 21st centuries. Climbers like "Kilian Jornet", blending ultra- marathon endurance with technical ascents, and "Nirmal Purja", whose record-breaking summits shattered temporal assumptions, reveal a contemporary paradigm: mountains as arenas of rapid, almost transcendental athleticism. Meanwhile, indigenous climbers, long relegated to footnotes in expedition histories, increasingly assert their rightful place as stewards of sacred peaks.

Thus, the saga of mountaineering resists reduction to mere feats of strength. It weaves a tapestry of cultures, philosophies, and personal odysseys - each ascent a dialectic between human fragility and the immutable majesty of the mountains.

In the sentence:

"The annals of mountaineering history are adorned with figures whose daring transcended mere athleticism..."?

What is the meaning of the word "epochal" in the context:

"Tenzing Norgay and Sir Edmund Hillary's epochal 1953 Everest ascent..."

  1. AOption (a)

    Trivial

  2. BOption (b)

    Highly significant and historic

  3. COption (c)

    Ordinary and recurrent

  4. DOption (d)

    Disastrous

View answer & explanation

Correct answer

Answer: (a)A.

Trivial

Explanation not yet available.
SSC CPO 2025 Official Paper (Held On 10 Dec, 2025 Shift 2) (Previous Year Paper)·English Comprehension
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Question 153

SSC CPO 2025• English Comprehension• English Comprehension

Read the passage and answer the questions:

The annals of mountaineering history are adorned with figures whose daring transcended mere athleticism, embodying philosophical quests for transcendence against Earth's most formidable landscapes.

Each mountaineer whether treading the snows of Everest, the granite of Patagonia, or the arid heights of the Atlas Mountains-etched a distinct narrative of audacity and introspection.

"Tenzing Norgay" and "Sir Edmund Hillary's" epochal 1953 Everest ascent immortalized human perseverance, but figures such as "Reinhold Messner" redefined the boundaries further. Rejecting supplemental oxygen, Messner's minimalist ethos emphasized purity over conquest, portraying mountains not as trophies but as sentient entities commanding reverence. Similarly, "Junko Tabei", the first woman to summit Everest, symbolized the intersection of resilience and quiet defiance in an era resistant to female adventurers.

The ethos of mountaineering diversified through the late 20th and early 21st centuries. Climbers like "Kilian Jornet", blending ultra- marathon endurance with technical ascents, and "Nirmal Purja", whose record-breaking summits shattered temporal assumptions, reveal a contemporary paradigm: mountains as arenas of rapid, almost transcendental athleticism. Meanwhile, indigenous climbers, long relegated to footnotes in expedition histories, increasingly assert their rightful place as stewards of sacred peaks.

Thus, the saga of mountaineering resists reduction to mere feats of strength. It weaves a tapestry of cultures, philosophies, and personal odysseys - each ascent a dialectic between human fragility and the immutable majesty of the mountains.

In the sentence:

"The annals of mountaineering history are adorned with figures whose daring transcended mere athleticism..."?

What does the word "dialectic" most nearly imply in the phrase:

"...each ascent a dialectic between human fragility and the immutable majesty of the mountains" ?

  1. AOption (a)

    A silent observation

  2. BOption (b)

    A hostile confrontation

  3. COption (c)

    A dialogue or interplay between opposing forces

  4. DOption (d)

    A scientific measurement

View answer & explanation

Correct answer

Answer: (a)A.

A silent observation

Explanation not yet available.
SSC CPO 2025 Official Paper (Held On 10 Dec, 2025 Shift 2) (Previous Year Paper)·English Comprehension
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Question 154

SSC CPO 2025• English Comprehension• English Comprehension

Read the passage and answer the questions:

The annals of mountaineering history are adorned with figures whose daring transcended mere athleticism, embodying philosophical quests for transcendence against Earth's most formidable landscapes.

Each mountaineer whether treading the snows of Everest, the granite of Patagonia, or the arid heights of the Atlas Mountains-etched a distinct narrative of audacity and introspection.

"Tenzing Norgay" and "Sir Edmund Hillary's" epochal 1953 Everest ascent immortalized human perseverance, but figures such as "Reinhold Messner" redefined the boundaries further. Rejecting supplemental oxygen, Messner's minimalist ethos emphasized purity over conquest, portraying mountains not as trophies but as sentient entities commanding reverence. Similarly, "Junko Tabei", the first woman to summit Everest, symbolized the intersection of resilience and quiet defiance in an era resistant to female adventurers.

The ethos of mountaineering diversified through the late 20th and early 21st centuries. Climbers like "Kilian Jornet", blending ultra- marathon endurance with technical ascents, and "Nirmal Purja", whose record-breaking summits shattered temporal assumptions, reveal a contemporary paradigm: mountains as arenas of rapid, almost transcendental athleticism. Meanwhile, indigenous climbers, long relegated to footnotes in expedition histories, increasingly assert their rightful place as stewards of sacred peaks.

Thus, the saga of mountaineering resists reduction to mere feats of strength. It weaves a tapestry of cultures, philosophies, and personal odysseys - each ascent a dialectic between human fragility and the immutable majesty of the mountains.

In the sentence:

"The annals of mountaineering history are adorned with figures whose daring transcended mere athleticism..."?

Which of the following best summarizes the primary argument of the passage?

  1. AOption (a)

    Mountaineering is solely a test of physical endurance.

  2. BOption (b)

    Mountaineering history is dominated by Western adventurers.

  3. COption (c)

    Mountaineering represents a confluence of physical challenge, cultural identity, and philosophical exploration.

  4. DOption (d)

    Technological advancements have made mountaineering effortless.

View answer & explanation

Correct answer

Answer: (a)A.

Mountaineering is solely a test of physical endurance.

Explanation not yet available.
SSC CPO 2025 Official Paper (Held On 10 Dec, 2025 Shift 2) (Previous Year Paper)·English Comprehension
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Question 155

SSC CPO 2025• English Comprehension• English Comprehension

Read the passage and answer the questions:

The annals of mountaineering history are adorned with figures whose daring transcended mere athleticism, embodying philosophical quests for transcendence against Earth's most formidable landscapes.

Each mountaineer whether treading the snows of Everest, the granite of Patagonia, or the arid heights of the Atlas Mountains-etched a distinct narrative of audacity and introspection.

"Tenzing Norgay" and "Sir Edmund Hillary's" epochal 1953 Everest ascent immortalized human perseverance, but figures such as "Reinhold Messner" redefined the boundaries further. Rejecting supplemental oxygen, Messner's minimalist ethos emphasized purity over conquest, portraying mountains not as trophies but as sentient entities commanding reverence. Similarly, "Junko Tabei", the first woman to summit Everest, symbolized the intersection of resilience and quiet defiance in an era resistant to female adventurers.

The ethos of mountaineering diversified through the late 20th and early 21st centuries. Climbers like "Kilian Jornet", blending ultra- marathon endurance with technical ascents, and "Nirmal Purja", whose record-breaking summits shattered temporal assumptions, reveal a contemporary paradigm: mountains as arenas of rapid, almost transcendental athleticism. Meanwhile, indigenous climbers, long relegated to footnotes in expedition histories, increasingly assert their rightful place as stewards of sacred peaks.

Thus, the saga of mountaineering resists reduction to mere feats of strength. It weaves a tapestry of cultures, philosophies, and personal odysseys - each ascent a dialectic between human fragility and the immutable majesty of the mountains.

In the sentence:

"The annals of mountaineering history are adorned with figures whose daring transcended mere athleticism..."?

Which word could best replace "immutable" in the phrase

"...the immutable majesty of the mountains..."

without significantly changing the meaning?

  1. AOption (a)

    Transient 

  2. BOption (b)

    Unchanging

  3. COption (c)

    Diminishing

  4. DOption (d)

    Fragile

View answer & explanation

Correct answer

Answer: (a)A.

Transient 

Explanation not yet available.
SSC CPO 2025 Official Paper (Held On 10 Dec, 2025 Shift 2) (Previous Year Paper)·English Comprehension
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Question 156

SSC CPO 2025• English Comprehension• English Comprehension

Choose the correct one-word substitution for the blank in the sentence below.

Despite the rise of digital art, Maya chose to specialize in _________, dedicating hours to perfecting each elegant stroke by hand.

  1. AOption (a)

    typography

  2. BOption (b)

    calligraphy

  3. COption (c)

    cartography 

  4. DOption (d)

    photography

View answer & explanation

Correct answer

Answer: (a)A.

typography

Explanation not yet available.
SSC CPO 2025 Official Paper (Held On 10 Dec, 2025 Shift 2) (Previous Year Paper)·English Comprehension
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Question 157

SSC CPO 2025• English Comprehension• English Comprehension

Choose the correct one-word substitution for the blank in the sentence below.

Despite knowing the importance of the assignment, Rahul kept delaying it until the last minute - a clear case of ________.

  1. AOption (a)

    exaggeration

  2. BOption (b)

    procrastination

  3. COption (c)

    temptation

  4. DOption (d)

    negotiation

View answer & explanation

Correct answer

Answer: (a)A.

exaggeration

Explanation not yet available.
SSC CPO 2025 Official Paper (Held On 10 Dec, 2025 Shift 2) (Previous Year Paper)·English Comprehension
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Question 158

SSC CPO 2025• English Comprehension• English Comprehension

Fill in the blank with the appropriate article.

Many experts argue that without __________ unequivocal global consensus, climate mitigation efforts will be severely undermined.

  1. AOption (a)

    a

  2. BOption (b)

    an

  3. COption (c)

    the

  4. DOption (d)

    no article

View answer & explanation

Correct answer

Answer: (a)A.

a

Explanation not yet available.
SSC CPO 2025 Official Paper (Held On 10 Dec, 2025 Shift 2) (Previous Year Paper)·English Comprehension
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Question 159

SSC CPO 2025• English Comprehension• English Comprehension

Fill in the blank with the appropriate article.

Despite efforts to standardize practices, ________ law remains subject to cultural interpretation in many regions.

  1. AOption (a)

    a

  2. BOption (b)

    an

  3. COption (c)

    the

  4. DOption (d)

    no article

View answer & explanation

Correct answer

Answer: (a)A.

a

Explanation not yet available.
SSC CPO 2025 Official Paper (Held On 10 Dec, 2025 Shift 2) (Previous Year Paper)·English Comprehension
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Question 160

SSC CPO 2025• English Comprehension• English Comprehension

Improve the following sentence by replacing the underlined words with the correct phrasal verb.

After months of training, she was ready to go through the final exam.

  1. AOption (a)

    go in for

  2. BOption (b)

    go off

  3. COption (c)

    went through

  4. DOption (d)

    go along

View answer & explanation

Correct answer

Answer: (a)A.

go in for

Explanation not yet available.

How should I prepare for English Comprehension in SSC CPO?

Solving previous year questions by topic helps identify recurring concepts, question patterns, and frequently asked sub-topics. Attempt each question, review the step-by-step explanation, and note down key formulas or facts for quick revision before the exam.